At 2:00, John Dear will give instructions and a blessing, then everyone will pick up sackcloth and ashes, and walk mindfully in twos and threes up Trinity Drive toward the Bridge and the entrance of the National Labs. We will carry peace signs and CNV signs. The police will not let us cross the bridge. At about 2:30, we will all pour the ashes on the ground, put on sackcloth, and sit down in silence right there on the sidewalk along Trinity Drive for thirty minutes “to repent of the mortal sin of nuclear weapons and beg the God of peace for nuclear disarmament” (as we have been doing since 2005). After thirty minutes, we will walk back to Ashley Pond by 3:25, where we will sit on the lawn in front of the stage for reflections and music. Rev. Jim Lawson and Roshi Joan Halifax will each speak each for about 15 minutes. We will have music, and end by 4:00. The event is free and open to the public.

Pax Christi USA is happy to announce that we will be hosting a special gathering for members, friends, and partners on Thursday evening, August 6th, 7:30-9:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church located at 208 Grant Ave in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The evening event will include prayer and a dialogue with Sr. Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN and Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN (respectively Executive Director & Program Director of PCUSA), followed by a social.

Conference begins. After introductions and music, they will introduce the keynote speaker, Rev. Jim Lawson (see speaker biographies). Jim Lawson was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. King’s best friends, and in Dr. King’s words, “the leading strategist and theoretician of nonviolence in the world.” After his talk, there will be time for questions and answers. The evening program will end by 9 p.m.

“Building Campaign Nonviolence: Strategizing, Organizing and Mainstreaming Nonviolence for the Times We’re In.

”Ken Butigan and Kit Evans Ford will lead us together to reflect on our organizing work last year and this coming September, “to protest war, poverty, and environmental destruction and to promote a new culture of peace and nonviolence.” Together, we will share what we have done, where we are, what we will do during the Campaign Nonviolence National Week of Action starting September 20th, and where we are going to promote the coming of a new culture of peace and nonviolence.

“Working to End War, Poverty and Environmental Destruction, Building a New Culture of Peace and Nonviolence:” A Panel Discussion with Kathy Kelly, Medea Benjamin, Sr. Joan Brown, Rev. Lennox Yearwood and Rev. Jim Lawson. (See speakers biographies). Five of the nation’s leading activists will reflect on ways to organize and end war, poverty and environmental destruction. After brief remarks, there will be time for questions and answers. Kit Evans Ford will facilitate. Followed by a 5 minute stretch break.

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion.

“Nuclear Weapons, Los Alamos and Nonviolence,” on the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with Bud Ryan, Jay Coghlan, James Doyle, Rev. Jim Lawson, Marian Naranjo, and Beata Tsosie-Pena. (See speaker biographies). After brief remarks, there will be time for questions and answers. John Dear will facilitate.

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Coffee Break.

Coffee and tea will be available in the hallway outside the ballroom.

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Buddhist Path of Peace and Nonviolence.

Roshi Joan Halifax of the Upaya Zen Center will lead us in a silent Zen sitting meditation, offer reflections on Buddhist nonviolence and becoming Boddhisattvas of peace and nonviolence, and then take questions.

5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Dinner break.

Participants are free to enjoy dinner on their own somewhere in Santa Fe.

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Closing panel.

“Going Forward to Build a New Movement of Nonviolence: Mobilizing the Nation for the Times We’re In.” The conference will end with a closing panel discussion featuring John Dear, Ken Butigan, Kathy Kelly, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Medea Benjamin and Rev. Jim Lawson. Kit Evans Ford will facilitate. After brief remarks, there will be time for questions and answers.

Sunday, August 9th, 2015

Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki and presentation of the 2015 US Peace Memorial award.Ashley Pond, Los Alamos, NM

Three buses will be available for rides to Los Alamos. They will leave in front of the Hilton Hotel at 9:30 a.m. (To sign up for a bus ride, make sure you checked the box to use the Sunday bus on the registration page. If you didn’t, just let us know by emailing us at info@paceebene.org)

The Nagasaki day event will start in Los Alamos at Ashley Pond at 11:00 a.m. John Dear will give instructions from the stage and a blessing, everyone will pick up sackcloth and ashes, then everyone will walk mindfully in twos and threes up Trinity Drive toward the bridge and the Labs carrying peace signs. At 11:30 a.m. or so, we will all pour the ashes on the ground, put on sackcloth, and sit down along Trinity Drive in silence for thirty minutes “to repent of the mortal sin of nuclear weapons and beg the God of peace for nuclear disarmament” (as we have been doing since 2005). Afterwards, we would all walk back to Ashley Pond by 12:30, and gather in front of the stage by the pond for speeches and music. There will also be a presentation for the 2015 US Peace Memorial award during this time.

Speakers will include Rev. Jim Lawson, Kathy Kelly, Medea Benjamin, Beata Tsosie Pena, John Dear, Ken Butigan, Michael Knox of US Peace Memorial and others. We will finish by 1:30 or 1:45. Buses will leave Los Alamos at 1:30, 2:00 and 2:30. This event is free and open to the public. Together, we will go forth to make peace and campaign nonviolence!